History/Letters: from Rebecca Murrell to Lou Eddins November 7 1860; Claiborne & Webster 
par., Louisiana
Contributed by: Laura Bonde 
Contact: lbonde@bluemarble.net 
Date Submitted: November 10, 2004

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Letter from Rebecca Murrell to Lou Eddins, Minden Nov. 7th 1860

Dear Lou: 

You doubtless think by this time I am not going to answer your letter at all, but you will 
know better when I tell you that your letter was just a month coming.  I cannot think 
what detained it so long on the way.  I was very glad indeed to hear from you for I really 
thought you were not going to let any one hear from you.  I saw Sister Betsy (John 
Murrell’s wife) the week before I got your letter and she was grumbling a good deal a 
about your not writing. I spent the week there and at Homer together last week.  The family 
was all well, seemed to be enjoying themselves finely. What do you think happened in that 
neighborhood while I was there, Lou.  Emily Kimbell got married.  What do you think 
of it. She married a Mr. Carthern, a brother to Mat Fuller’s old beau. Emily is his third wife.  
He has three children.  He lives in Arkansas and they started home the second day there 
married.  I had the pleasure of being at the wedding.  It took place on Sunday the 28th of 
October.  Had a big supper and invited all the neighbors.  John C. Blackman married them.  
Well, Lou, I think I have given you the particulars of the wedding and I believe it is all the 
one of your friends that has married since you left.  How are you getting along over there, 
Lou.  I would have thought some of the boys would have been after you before now.  I wish some good fellow would go and bring 
you back and keep you here, you don’t know how I miss you every time I go to 
the plantation. 

There has been a good deal of sickness here and at Homer since you left.  Mrs. 
Jonas Smith of Homer and Mrs. Lancaster of Minden both died last week.  Mr. 
William Burnham has been very sick but is now recovering.  After he began to 
improve he came out to the plantation and stayed a week and two days.  He 
improved a good deal while there but has now gone back to Homer. 

Well Lou I hardly know what to write about next, there is nothing astir now 
but politics.  Politics all the time.  There was considerable excitement here 
last evening about fire.  It has been rumored around that last night Minden  
and Homer were to be burned up.  While the Bell party was in high glee about 
Bell getting a majority in this ward, shooting cannons and making a fuss in 
general,  Dr. McCamey found a parcel of matches fixed under his door steps  of his drug store so as by pulling a string attached 
it would set fire to his store. Just as every person had got home almost immediately after 
finding the match the cry of fire was heard down town.  I tell you it was scary times.  Some 
men shouldered their guns and went to the fire but most of them got their guns and stayed 
at home.  The fire was down at Mrs. Jackson’s on dutch row.  Some of her bed clothes had 
caught fire but it was soon extinguished. But I tell you it was very exciting if it was an 
accident being at such time.  The fire with the rumors before made the people open their 
eyes. About fifty men stood guard all night all around the town.  Mrs. Hadley stayed here 
and Mr. Murrell and John Hadley stood watch.  Mrs. Hadley and myself sat up the whole 
night she was so much excited she would not go to sleep nor would not let me.  Well Lou 
I reckon I have to bring my letter to a close.  I have told you all I can think of now and the 
children keep talking and bothering me so I hardly know whether  I am writing sense or not.  
You must excuse all mistakes as you know my faults so well.  We are all very well and 
hope this may find you the same.  Give my love to Frank, you Ma- and all the family.  
I do want to see you so much, write often.  I love to hear from you if I can’t see you.  

From your true Friend, 
Rebecca M. 

This old letter is hardly fit to send but I have not time to write another this evening. 

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